How to Investigate Tathāgatagarbha

Question: The functions of the tathāgatagarbha are present everywhere, and it is precisely because they are everywhere that there is no place to begin. How can the tathāgatagarbha be sought? By what means?

Answer: One must first cultivate meditative concentration (samādhi) well before investigating; otherwise, the realization will be largely intellectual. If it is merely an intellectual understanding, one will not be able to observe the workings of the tathāgatagarbha, will not know exactly how the tathāgatagarbha gives rise to the five aggregates, and wisdom will not grow; only genuine realization corresponds to the tathāgatagarbha. If your meditative concentration is insufficient, do not begin investigating Chan for the time being.

After the eradication of the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi-prahāṇa), it becomes easy to realize the tathāgatagarbha. When you negate all the functions and operations of the five aggregates, the functions of the tathāgatagarbha become manifest. If you still take the functions of the five aggregates to be real, you will not be able to perceive the functions of the tathāgatagarbha, and realizing Him will be very difficult. When merit, meditative concentration, and the power of wisdom (prajñā-bala) are all complete, and the bodhisattva's six perfections have been accomplished, then by investigating Chan and working on gong'an (public cases), realization is possible—at that point there will be a place to begin.